Laboratories of Democracy - Part I: Early State Constitutions and Their Influence on the Legislative Branch

Article I Initiative

Event Video

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On July 19, 2019, the Federalist Society's Article I Initiative cosponsored a two-part panel with the Constitutional Sources Project at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. The topic of the first panel was early state constitutions and their influence on the legislative branch.

The concept of states serving as important test cases for national governance dates back to the founding of the country. This panel will discuss how lessons from the state constitutions and legislatures prior to and during the American founding were incorporated into our federal government, and in particular, the powers enumerated to Congress and the structure of the branch itself. The event is the first in a two-part series of Capitol Hill luncheons focusing on the important role the states have played in the past and how they may still serve to offer solutions to the modern Congress. This event is co-sponsored by the Constitutional Sources Project.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Featuring:

  • Lynn Uzzell, Lecturer, University of Virginia, University of Richmond
  • John Dinan, Professor of Politics, Wake Forest University
  • Mark Graber, Regents Professor, University System of Maryland
  • Moderator: Julie Silverbrook, Executive Director, The Constitutional Sources Project
  • Introduction: Nathan Kaczmarek, Director, Article I Initiative | Director, Regulatory Transparency Project, The Federalist Society